(1) Considering the fundamental liberty interests of parents and children, it is the policy of this state that divorcing parents have unrestricted and unsupervised access to their children. When necessary to protect a child and no less restrictive means is reasonably available however, a court may order supervised parent-time if the court finds evidence that the child would be subject to physical or emotional harm or child abuse, as described in Section 76-5-109, from the noncustodial parent if left unsupervised with the noncustodial parent.
(2) A court that orders supervised parent-time shall give preference to persons suggested by the parties to supervise, including relatives. If the court finds that the persons suggested by the parties are willing to supervise, and are capable of protecting the children from physical or emotional harm, or child abuse, the court shall authorize the persons to supervise parent-time.
(3) If the court is unable to authorize any persons to supervise parent-time pursuant to Subsection (2), the court may require that the noncustodial parent seek the services of a professional individual or agency to exercise their supervised parent-time.
(4) At the time supervised parent-time is imposed, the court shall consider: (a) whether the cost of professional or agency services is likely to prevent the noncustodial parent from exercising parent-time; and (b) whether the requirement for supervised parent-time should expire after a set period of time.
(a) whether the cost of professional or agency services is likely to prevent the noncustodial parent from exercising parent-time; and
(b) whether the requirement for supervised parent-time should expire after a set period of time.
(5) The court shall, in its order for supervised parent-time, provide specific goals and expectations for the noncustodial parent to accomplish before unsupervised parent-time may be granted. The court shall schedule one or more follow-up hearings to revisit the issue of supervised parent-time.
(6) A noncustodial parent may, at any time, petition the court to modify the order for supervised parent-time if the noncustodial parent can demonstrate that the specific goals and expectations set by the court in Subsection (5) have been accomplished.
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